Attractions in North Cornwall
What to see and where to go… Padstow is just a 13 minute drive.
Padstow
Just north of Treyarnon Bay, 13 mins drive away Padstow has a pretty and busy harbour with loads of pubs, seafood shops, art galleries, small businesses in jewellery, cards and prints, pasties, gin tasting, Padstow Brewing Company tasting rooms, bookshops, many individual boutiques, glassware and pottery – there is lots to see and do.
Check out Padstow Tourist Information Centre 01841 533449 as it is worth it for fishing expeditions and boat trips, ferry timetables, tours, hikes and trails, information and opening times of everything going on.
Restaurants, pubs and cafes are plentiful, the quality is good and the sea-food is superb. Rick Stein has several eating places which are very popular – booking has to be well in advance and they all share one booking number ( 01841 532700) www.rickstein.com. The Seafood Restaurant has amazing food with a buzzy and fun atmosphere; St Petroc’s Bistro is quieter and Rick Stein’s Café is simpler but lovely.
Paul Ainsworth at No 6‘ in Middle Street is Michelin starred, high-end choice with a stylish vibe serving locally grown produce and Cornish seafood with a brilliant taster menu. Ci-Ci’s bar is very chic!
Caffe Rojano is the sister restaurant to No.6, tucked in on Padstow quayside with a glass enclosed terrace. Serving delicious Mediterranean style food and slightly easier on the budget it has a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Both these restaurants should be booked.
Cherry Trees Coffeehouse right on the harbour front is literally the most charming tearoom ever. Everything served here is so pretty, delicious and homemade and the service really welcoming.
The Lobster Hatchery nationallobsterhatchery.co.uk is a conservation charity based on South Quay, it is fascinating for the whole family if you have half an hour to spare!
Bike Hire – Bikes can be hired on the right side of the harbour, a really great day can be had cycling the off-road 17 mile Camel Trail alongside the Camel Estuary up to Wadebridge and Bodmin. The Camel Estuary is beautiful and peaceful and an excellent source of bird and other wild life.
Wadebridge
A lovely seaside town buzzing with atmosphere, Wadebridge is full of interest, everyone enjoys a mooch. A great variety of quality shops including a couple of specialist butchers, an artisan baker, delicatessen, coffee shops, gin tasting, a specialist wine shop, lots of great independent clothes shops, household, furniture, lighting and decoration shops, surf shops, book shops, antique shops, flower shops – the list goes on and on! As well as a cinema, a lovely Co-op and pubs there are cafes, bars and restaurants everywhere!
The town sits mid-point of the Camel Trail, now a flat cycle route but once a railway between Padstow and Bodmin running alongside the stunning Camel Estuary with lots of hides for watching the copious estuarine birds.
In particular, we love
Tims Place – PL27 7QN – a delicatessen serving local foods with a great daytime menu of quality food.
Stepping Stone: PL27 7ND – a quality restaurant, great food skilfully cooked at a reasonable price, booking essential: 01208 816377
Baker Tom’s Bread: PL27 7AD – lovely bread!
Wadebridge Wines: PL27 7AL – a really interesting selection of local wines and gins
Rural Urban: PL27 7DA – ruralurban.co.uk, contemporary, unique and amusing items for the home and as gifts, very friendly service at reasonable prices. Love the place!
Glanvilles of Wadebridge: PL27 7NA – fabulous kitchen and lighting shop, wide range of everything with knowledgeable friendly advice.
Camel Trail Cycle Hire: PL27 7AL – such friendly guys and nice bikes.
01208 814545
Bedruthan Steps
Just 15 mins by car towards Newquay, following the elevated coastal road with its wonderful views lie the Bedruthan Steps, a spectacular highlight of this coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty No 4. From the viewpoint at the top of the steps (closed presently) is a view point of of the huge imposing black rocks jutting out from the gold of the sand, caves linking cove to cove and kittiwakes soaring above their cliff face summer breeding grounds.
Treyarnon Bay
Treyarnon Bay is a huge and beautiful cove lined bay with lots to explore and a natural sea-water swimming pool big enough to jump into! Hillside has sight of the Bay which ten – fifteen minutes walk away. As one of the big surfing beaches in North Cornwall, together with the nearby other six it forms part of the “Seven Bays for Seven Days”, each surfing beach facing a slightly different direction to catch the varying winds and each protected by the RNLI.
The tidal rock pool is rated one of the best natural swimming pools in
the country (according to Phillippa Stewart of the Guardian), big with
beautiful clear water and deep enough to dive from the rocks. This is
what one of our guests has had to say:
“A super swim in the large rock pool at Treyanon Bay this morning was one to remember!”
Treyarnon Bay has the following amenities:
- Car-park with pay and display
- Mobile convenience store in the car-park
- Mobile snack bar with delicious coffee and butties
- Wet suit and board hire
- RNLI presence.
- The Youth Hostal Association – open from 7.30 until late for that post surfing breakfast and great for trying out the local beers. The cliff top garden commands an impressive view and dogs are welcome both inside and out!
Constantine Bay
Just around the headland, within easy walking distance of Hillside Cottage, is Constantine Bay – an enormous stretch of sandy beach with long deep rollers for serious surfers. Of enormous fascination is the blow-hole and unprotected sink hole where, from a safe distance, you can watch the sea blasting through the caves far down below.
Surfing the wide sandy beach – Constantine Bay Surf School, Tel: 07837 488083
Wet-suit and board hire & purchase – Constantine Bay Surf Store, Tel: 01841 520250